Surge Protection

Have you ever wondered how a power surge can cause damage? Or where power surges come from? Or how you can protect your property from power surges?

An electrical surge is a short burst of excessive, unwanted energy on a circuit. If not suppressed, it can destroy electrical equipment.

Thunderstorms are one cause of power surges. Lightning strikes nearby causing the power to cut out for a moment, and then return with a surge.

But afterwards you may experience the following problem — when you try to switch on the TV or computer, it doesn’t seem to work.

In the United States alone, power surges are responsible for hundreds of millions of dollars of property damage every year.

While lightning strikes are the most well-known source, the majority of electrical surges are actually caused by the motors and compressors in refrigerators, air conditioners and other household equipment.

When these systems start and stop, an electrical surge is created – resulting in potential damages to your home’s electrical items and appliances.

Surge Protection Devices (SPDs), combined with a good grounding system should protect your electronic and electrical appliances from most electrical surges. An SPD does not suppress or arrest a surge; it actually diverts the surge to the ground.

Surge Protection Devices (SPDs) can protect particular appliances in your home, but a more comprehensive approach to surge protection is to combine point-of-use devices with another device, like a “service entrance surge protector” or an electrical panel surge protector.

By installing two tiers of surge protection, you’ll be able to protect your home from all but the most powerful surges.